Madoff's wife: We tried suicide after Ponzi arrest

By the Associated Press | October 26, 2011 | 5:55 PM EDT

FILE - In this April 6, 2009 file photo, Ruth Madoff is escorted by private security as she leaves the Metropolitan Correctional Center after visiting her husband, disgraced financier Bernard Madoff , in New York. Ruth Madoff and her son Andrew will speak publicly for the first time about Bernie Madoff on "60 minutes" airing Sunday, Oct. 30 at 7pm ET/PT. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

NEW YORK (AP) — The wife of disgraced financier Bernard Madoff says they tried to kill themselves after he admitted stealing billions of dollars in the largest Ponzi scheme in history.

Ruth Madoff will appear on Sunday's episode of CBS' "60 Minutes." It's her first interview since her husband's December 2008 arrest.

She says the time after Bernie Madoff's arrest was "horrendous." She remembers receiving angry phone calls and hate mail.

Ruth Madoff says they took "a bunch of pills" including Ambien on Christmas Eve, but both woke up the next day. She says the decision was "very impulsive" and she's glad they didn't die.

The couple's son Andrew will also talk about his experience. Another son, Mark, killed himself last year.